Fun Five Friday [The Practical Edition]

This week's installment doesn't have any food or giraffe-themed cleaning items, but it does have a few recent and ongoing events that are making life a little easier. :)

1. Less rent for the summer. My [not so] little brother has moved into our spare bedroom for the summer, which means we get to pay a little less for rent and utilities the last 3 months we live here. Which means we can actually put some money into savings instead of taking it out, unlike most of this year. Le sigh.

2. Cleaning out. We're really getting into de-cluttering now in anticipation of our move (which will be a downsize) and are planning to hold a garage sale at my parents' house in July (take note, all you locals!). Hopefully that will garner a little extra cash in addition to ridding us of things we don't need that someone else could use.

3. Apartment search progress. No, we still don't have a place to live, but we're getting there! It's been an odd experience. Maybe it's just because we live in a college town, but in the past, Travis and I have always had to secure apartments wayy in advance of our move-in date. Now, I keep calling and asking about August availability, and no one has any idea. They keep telling me to call back in July! But regardless, we have a couple of good leads. :)

[Okay, I guess these last two are not particularly practical...]

4. This print. 

(source)

Our first anniversary is coming up on Monday! (Aww.) For those of you who don't know, the first anniversary gift is traditionally paper-related. Which is handy, since we are poor, and paper is cheap. :) Perhaps the person who made up these things did that on purpose.

I had some different ideas about what to do for Travis (I'm sure I'll talk more about this later, after we exchange gifts), and finally figured out something cute and cost-effective.

Then, of course, today I stumbled across this print from Silhouette Blue, and a custom 8x10 print is only $20, and I'm thinking I might just have to go for it. You can choose from like a bajillion colors (well, actually about ten), and you can put your wedding date underneath the initials. I just really like it. It could be the very beginning of our frame wall (a secret goal for future living spaces).

But I'm not counting that as my gift for Travis, since (1) I know he is making me something, and I also wanted to make something instead of buying it, and (2) It would not be here by Monday, and the point of our gifts was to be frugal, not pay for fast shipping. Instead, it shall be a gift to us from us. (Don't judge me, you know you do things like that, too. PS, sorry I use so many parentheses?)

5. Nice Girl Notes. I know this blog has been around for quite some time, but I just randomly started reading it today. And it's hilarious. I wish I was as funny as all these people whose stuff I read. I particularly enjoyed this two-part cartoon series on First World Problems (my friends and I accuse each other of complaining about these all the time).

(source)

Regarding packing jewelry. It's so true!

What's been making your week happy?